Ban on Cigarette Vending Machines to Be Drafted : Health: Ordinance aimed at reducing teen-age smoking would apply to unincorporated areas.

With cigarette smoking among teen-agers on the rise, Ventura County Supervisor Susan Lacey wants the county to join in the effort to discourage the cancer-causing habit.

At Lacey’s urging, the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday agreed to draft an ordinance that would ban all cigarette vending machines in unincorporated areas, except in bars.

Lacey, an ex-smoker, said that 16% of illegal sales of cigarettes to minors are from vending machines. Banning them, she said, would help reduce the temptation for teen-agers to smoke.

The cities of Camarillo and Thousand Oaks have adopted similar laws prohibiting cigarette vending machines. They are still permitted in bars, which are off-limits to minors.

Although he has supported anti-smoking measures in the past, Supervisor Frank Schillo said smokers should be allowed to air their concerns before supervisors give final approval to the ordinance.

“There are a lot of adults who smoke, and I think we need to have their input,” he said.

Supervisors John Flynn and Judy Mikels questioned how effective the law would be and whether it was worth county counsel’s time and expense to research and write the ordinance.

“I really don’t think there are that many in the unincorporated area,” Flynn said. “I’ve never seen that many.”

On the other hand, Flynn said, if it discourages any young people from smoking, then an ordinance is worth looking at.

Lacey said she was aware of some cigarette machines in the unincorporated areas of the county, including Oak View and El Rio.

The supervisor said the county could seek help from Camarillo and Thousand Oaks in drafting its own ordinance to save time and money.

County Counsel James McBride said he expected to have a draft ordinance back to the supervisors in the next few weeks. At that time, a public hearing will be held before supervisors vote on its final approval.

Meanwhile, the federal government is moving to approve new regulations to discourage cigarette use among teen-agers, including a nationwide ban on cigarette vending machines in most places. Restrictions are also being considered on tobacco industry advertising aimed at young people, and stiffer penalties for merchants who sell cigarettes to minors are being considered.

Federal Drug Administration officials said that 3,000 children become regular smokers every day, and almost 1,000 of them eventually die from smoking-related illnesses.